OLMIS

Published Jan-23-2007

The Child Care Division (CCD) was established within the Oregon Employment Department in 1993 to highlight the economic importance of the child care industry in developing and maintaining a diverse, multi-skilled workforce. The division supports families and employers by planning, promoting, and funding a statewide child care system.

As Oregon's lead agency for the federal Child Care and Development Fund, CCD initiates and funds programs that improve the quality and availability of child care and provides funding to over 200 state and local agencies and organizations to make child care more affordable for high-risk families, including:

• low-income working families
  
• migrant and seasonal workers
  
• teen parents
  
• children with disabilities
  
• parents participating in substance abuse programs.

The division's primary responsibility is to assure the safety of children in care by certifying child care centers and certified family homes, registering family child care homes, and investigating complaints about providers.

Certified Care: The division certifies approximately 1,000 child care centers and 350 certified family homes through a process that includes a criminal history check of all staff, annual announced and unannounced inspections by division staff, and compliance with local sanitary and fire regulations. Centers care for more than 13 children, usually in a facility designed for that purpose. Certified family homes care for up to 16 children, including the provider's own children, in a single family dwelling.

Registered Care: CCD registers approximately 4,000 family child care businesses. These providers are registered for two years at a time and can care for up to 10 children, including their own, in their own home. Providers must meet basic training requirements and undergo an on-site health and safety review before beginning care for children and renewing their license. All providers and anyone over 18 who resides in or frequents the home must pass a background check.

License-exempt Care: Some child care is exempt from regulation, including providers caring for three or fewer children; providers caring for children from only one family; school district programs; care provided in the child's home or by a relative of the child; and limited duration programs such as summer camps.

For more information about services offered by the Child Care Division, visit www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/CCD/index.shtml.